The Celts are coming !

Hallein
–
Bad Dürrnberg

Salt,
the "white
gold", was not only the reason for the economic upturn during the
period of the Archbishops
in the Middle Ages but also caused the highly
sophisticated culture of the era of the Celts. Hallein, the saline
city, mining the largest quantities of salt in Middle Europe in the
13th century
still today impresses with medieval middle-class houses, squares and
narrow lanes. Concerning culture Hallein is not only well known for
Franz Xaver Gruber, composer of the world famous Christmas carol
"Silent Night, Holy Night" who lived, worked and died there but also
houses the world famous annual Salzburg Festival Plays in the old
historic saltwork buildings on the Perner Island. After a short
sightseeing tour through Hallein you reach the Health Resort Bad
Dürrnberg with its fascinating salt mine. In miners` clothes you hurtle
down wooden slides into the heart of the salt mountain. A multimedia
show is the back drop to your
boat trip across the subterranean salt
lake, which will leave a lasting impression of a unique underground
world. Being back on the surface you visit the Celtic village. It shows
impressively how the former inhabitants of the Dürrnberg mountain lived
there over 2500 years ago. You can discover re-enactments of Celtic
life
in the village houses and, on occassion, you can even look over there
shoulder at "Celtic" craftsmen at work.

Berchtesgadener
Land

German
province of Bavaria

Obersalzberg
Eagle's
Nest - Kehlsteinhaus
Königssee - King's lake

Passing
the saline
city Hallein this route takes you to Obersalzberg on the "Rossfeld
Panorama Road" with breathtaking view on the mountain range of the
"Hoher Göll", the Tennengebirge and the Dachstein.
Obersalzberg, the
former residence of the leaders of the Third Reich
is
the starting point of
the spectacular bus ride through the jagged rock
faces of the "Kehlstein". By the genuine brass lined lift inside the
mountain you get to the "Kehlstein House - the Eagle's Nest"
a
present for Adolf Hitler's 50th birthday in the name of the National
Socialistic Party. There you experience an impressive view from
Berchtesgaden with its mountain scenery far up to the "Alpenvorland"
with giganticly landscape. As an alternative you may visit either the
"Documentary Center" of the so called "Third Reich" or the
original military bunkers. You get back to Salzburg
along
the Königseeache (brook) passing the enchanted valley of Berchtesgaden.

King Ludwig II and the absolutely dreamlike Bavarian castles

Starting
in Salzburg we travel through the picturesque foothills of the Bavarian
Alps to Herrenchiemsee or to Schwangau with its idyllicly situated
Castle Neuschwanstein - home of the former unsociable shy art-loving
monarch King Ludwig II. Walk around and dream as the King used to do it in those times.